Clumsy Chromaticity

House of Usher Wax Museum wax tarts review

2015-10-03T08:42:00.002-07:00

Okay, it's been ages since I posted. I had a long no-buy and a pretty stressful few months. But I have been trying tons of indie perfumes, bath and body, and makeup products and really want to get back to sharing them!

Today I have my first indie wax melt purchase to share!

House of Usher Wax Museum is brand new, but the owner has been selling wax as part of her other company, Altitude Soap Co, for a while! I had never tried them, however, so this is my introduction!

I ordered a Halloween wax box, but that won't ship for a couple of weeks. In the meantime, I made a small order just to try them out and see how the quality is, etc. Also, I am a huge Edgar Allen Poe fan, so the theme did me in!

I ordered on the 29th and it arrived today, the 3rd. I was impressed by the fast shipping, and it was all safely packaged in a padded envelope with plenty of packing paper protecting it!

There were five items available in the shop at the time I ordered, so I grabbed one of each. She lists items as she makes them, so you'll want to check the shop often to see what she has in! Only listing what she has ready lets her have a very fast turnaround time, so I love that.

With my order, she included this little owl from First Sunday Handmade. It's a DIY air freshener! There's a little piece of cork attached to the back, and you can put your favorite oil or perfume on the cork and use it like you would a hanging air freshener. Super cute and cool!

This is the owl wax melt in the scent Blueberry Cornbread. This is about twice the size of the normal tarts at 3 oz. It's so cute! The Blueberry Cornbread scent is amaaaaazing. Seriously, it scented my whole mailbox. It smells like sweet corn muffins with blueberries and it made me so hungry my stomach actually started growling. I think this is my favorite scent of the bunch and I will probably look for this scent every time I order!

The 3oz size is a bit big for my warmer, so I cut a chunk off to melt. The smell is nice and strong with a great throw - it scented my room, and the two adjacent rooms! Super impressed.

Look how cutely the normal tarts are packaged! All tied up with a seasonally appropriate bow. I am a sucker for cute little touches like that!

The first one is apparently one of her older scents, as it has the Altitude label! Pineapple Upside Down Cake smells very much like it's namesake - pineapple, caramelized sugar, and cakiness. It's so pretty, and I will update this post when I melt it!

Strawberry Pie is one I was a little hesitant about - I love strawberries, but I hate how most berry scents have that fake plasticky smell. This one is great! It actually does smell like a strawberry pie! It is more of a bakery type scent (mmm, pie crust) than a fake fruit one, and I can't wait to melt it.

French Toast is so pretty! I was a little worried it would be too heavy on maple syrup, but it's not! It smells like nice, custardy, cinnamon topped french toast. This one will be great to melt in the morning!

And finally, Warm Vanilla Nutmeg. This one smells so yummy - it reminds me of a good vanilla chai! Very warm and autumnal smelling. This made me crave some chai, and I think I'm off to make some, now!

I am so pleased with my first order from House of Usher Wax Museum. Everything was neatly packaged and smells amazing! If you are a fan of melting wax tarts, I definitely recommend these. They are a step above those store bought ones. I know I'll be making many more purchases.

What are your favorite wax tarts?

Poesie Perfumes - first order and first look!

2015-05-16T10:27:00.002-07:00

Recently, my friend Karissa showed me a brand new company she'd seen on IMAM called Poesie Perfumes. After reading through the thread and the descriptions, I knew I had to try some samples.

Poesie just launched. It is a handmade perfume company run by a woman named Joelle. They make everything in small batches and are inspired by literature, travel, and vintage glamour! Here's what they have to say about themselves:

Poesie Perfume is inspired by stylish days gone by, open books, cozy cups of tea, embarking on a new journey, wandering the streets of far away cities, waking up and following your heart… It’s for the adventurers, the dreamers, and those who know how to enjoy the view as this crazy world spins on its axis every day.

The current collection is "The 1928 Collection", and it is inspired by Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries! It consists of 9 scents, and they offer beard oil, body lotion, body whip, and shower gel!

I ordered 6 of the 9 scents and received a 7th as a sample! I will write full reviews of them after I try them.

For now, look how cute this is all packaged up, and the darling green glass bottles.

So far, I have tried La Jeunesse, which has notes of fresh cut grass, juicy apple, and tea rose. I really love it! It starts as bright grass with a hint of apple, and it dries down to a soft, sweet, powdery rose. It captures the vintage 1920s feel so well and I adore it! So excited to try the others.

Aromaleigh Ephemera - March 2015

2015-03-07T10:02:00.000-08:00

Well, you may have noticed that I didn't really post in February. Normally, this would be because I was slacking. However, this time it's because a combination of my cat and a large glass of vodka and soda destroyed my computer! Not fun. BUT, I've finally replaced it and intend to stay on track for March. Hopefully. Fingers crossed.

Anyway, I received my March Ephemera box from Aromaleigh yesterday! This has become my favorite sub, and I was so excited to get it.

This month's theme was Norse Mythology (um, YES). Specifically, some of the overarching concepts in said mythology. As a history nerd (and former history major) and big fan of mythology, let me tell you - I am PSYCHED.

As always, Ephemera came all beautifully packaged and tied up in ribbon!

Seriously, how cute are these tiny boxes? I've been keeping them and keeping each month's goodies in them - perfect, easy storage.

First, we'll look at the samples. So far, every month Aromaleigh has included a couple of samples of theirs - this month, we have a preview of an upcoming collection, and a preview of next month's Ephemera box!

(I already tried out Carina, by the way - it's a sample from the upcoming Galactic collection, and let me tell you, it is freakin' STUNNING.) Next month's preview hints that it is based on an ancient Roman festival!

And, she's also included a lip gloss sample from Kiss My Sass Cosmetics. The sample is a sheer gloss with a pink sheen. It is cute and will be great to liven up a too-matte lipstick! I love that she's managed to send a sample from another indie company each month...such a nice touch!

As for the products themselves, this month we received a rouge and three eyeshadows. (Oh, and a couple of swedish fish..which I devoured immediately.) I really love the labels and the fact that the name of each product is on the top!

Shades listed in the order depicted on the arm swatch photo below:

Valkyrie - An easy-wear, soft warm rose. Aromaleigh describes this blush as "your cheeks but better" and it really is! It's a perfect subtle, beautiful flush. It's named after the choosers of the slain, who decided the fates of warriors. I can see myself wearing this often! In fact, so far, all three of the rouges that I've received in Ephemera are perfect, and I have been wearing them most every day!

Valhalla - A soft, pale, weathered gold with strong blue interference sparkle. This shade is gorgeous - the pale blue sparkle makes it really special. It's named for the "hall of the slain", where Odin's chosen fallen warriors are housed.

Yggdrasil - A midtone heathered green with copper interference shimmer. This is the prettiest green, a little different than any of the others I own! It's named after the huge tree that is central to Norse cosmology.

Ragnarok - This is a deep, warm reddish brown with gold/green interference shimmer. This is a nice, rich brown with the prettiest sparkle. It's named after the Norse end of days. Fun!

Overall, I am again impressed with this sub! The products are GORGEOUS and I really love how well thought-out Kristen's themes are. The shadows and blushes are always amazing quality, and she really has a way of creating unique sheens and finishes that make even neutral shades feel really special.

Have you tried anything from Aromaleigh yet? If not, I highly recommend them!

Glamour Doll Eyes OTM January 2015 Review and Unboxing

2015-01-14T14:35:00.003-08:00

Glamour Doll Eyes was my first indie brand and is still, a few years later, one of my very favorites! I have so many of her beautiful shadows (and a few blushes) and I always want more.

GDE offers a monthly sub called the OTM, or "Of the Month". It includes at least one exclusive shadow each month, but also usually contains other products or samples, some from GDE and some from other indies. I've discovered some of my other favorite indies after sampling them thanks to OTM!

I wasn't able to get a subscription for most of last year (the time it went up for sale was a time I was busy at work) so I missed out on most of last year's OTMs...but this year, I was lucky enough to have a nice friend snag a sub for me!

January's OTM showed up today and I was so excited to see it and get a sample of what was in store for this year!

This month's theme was "Be My Anchor", and we received a shadow, a cream shadow, a tinted lip balm, and a shadow sample, as well as a few candies (there were three...but, um...I kind of ate one already.) and a cute little anchor charm.

This month's goodies came in a cute gold satin bag, with an adorable info card and sticker! I love chevron and anything nautical, so this is a really fun theme for me. I'm excited to find a chain for the anchor charm. The full sized products are:

Be My Anchor (shadow) - A sheer flash of sparkling blue with a dusty golden base. This is so pretty! It is sparkly and almost neutral, but the perfect blue flash makes it so interesting. I can't wait to wear this one!

Sailing Away (cream shadow) - a deep royal blue base with a soft coral reef blue overlay, finished with anchor golden shimmer sheen. This is the first cream shadow I've seen from GDE and it is really beautiful! It has a nice texture and the perfect amount of shimmer. I love the shade of blue - not too dark, not too light.

Atomic Astrid (Aqua Bomb) - This is a coral colored balm with a blackberry pomegranate flavor. This smells nice and is a gorgeous color! Unfortunately, my tube seems to be broken and will not twist up. I tried it with a brush, and it felt really nice on the lips and had a pretty color to it!

Rose City (sample baggie shadow) - This is a beautiful violet toned bright magenta with a magical green sparkle overload. It was actually designed by my friend Meagan! I haven't swatched this yet, but I am so excited to try it.

Here are the two shadows, opened. Be My Anchor is sheer, but buildable, and is gorgeous over primer. Sailing Away is a great creamy texture and I think it will be perfect worn alone or as a base!

Be My Anchor swatched on bare skin (top) and on primer (bottom). Sailing Away on bare skin.

Closeup of Be My Anchor. Look at the watery blue!!

Closeup of Sailing Away...so gorgeous.

Here is the balm applied lightly with a brush on bare lips. It has a nice tint to it and feels good on the lips! I wish my tube weren't broken, I would probably use it often!

Overall, I am super happy with this month's OTM. As always, the colors are gorgeous and the formulas are good. I already can't wait to see what February will bring...and here's a hint...the theme will be "Any excuse for chocolate". YES PLEASE!

Have you tried anything but GDE yet? What's your favorite indie sub?

Solstice Scents - indie perfume oil review

2015-01-11T13:27:00.000-08:00

Indie perfume oils are my current obsession. I can't get enough of them! They're so unique and interesting and I want to order ALL THE SAMPLES.

After looking through some of Solstice Scents' catalogue, I couldn't resist ordering a ton of samples. So many, I'm going to have to break them into a few posts! Solstice Scents offers whipped soaps, burnishing glace, body cream, and other items as well as perfume oils! I have only tried the perfumes so far (but I really want to try more, now.)

Today, I have a few samples each from the Manor and Foxcroft collections! I wish now that I'd gotten the entire collections, but I'm going to have to go back and get the rest of them.

All of the fragrances I ordered were sample vials, so they are all in the same packaging. I've included all but one of them in the photo (Maplewood Inn was in my bag), but all vials have a label with the name of the fragrance written on them.

First, I have 3 scents from the Manor Collection. The Manor Collection was created as an addition to the 2012 autumn collection, and is now part of the permanent line. It's a series of scents inspired by a big, old manor. There are three more scents in this collection I need to try!

Cellar - This is described as "Damp Earth and Stone, Wooden Casks, Cool Fall Air, Crisp Apple, Pear and Broom Corn". I ordered this one out of sheer curiosity. I wasn't sure how I'd feel about smelling like a cellar, and I was a little wary of the damp earth and stone notes. However, this ended up being my favorite scent of the bunch! It is seriously amazing. On first sniff, it is all cold wet earth, stone, and very fresh, real red apples. It is a true, realistic apple scent, and not at all that synthetic and overly sweet type of apple scent that I avoid. It smells exactly like walking into the giant storage room at my local orchard! After it's been on for a while, the hay and wood notes come out a bit. This is a perfect fall scent if you don't want to smell like pumpkin spice. I am in love with this scent and intend to get a larger bottle of it when it is available. I'd also really like to try this one as a whipped soap.

Kitchen - This is described as "Pumpkin, Sugar Cookies, Peach Preserves, Spice Breads, Danishes, Caramel, Vanilla & Sweet Wood Smoke." I drooled over this one for quite a while before I finally went for it. And I'm not disappointed! When first applied, it reminds me of warm pumpkin snickerdoodles, with a bit of caramel. It is sweet and warm and delicious! As it wears, the spice breads peak out, and the wood smoke appears at the end. It is a sweet, subtle smoke and it doesn't overpower. I have to be careful with scents that have spice notes - my body chemistry loves to amp up those notes until they overtake all of the other notes. This one stays balanced, even on my skin. I want my kitchen to smell like this, and this is another I want a larger size of.

Library - This is described as "Leather Bound Books, A Carved Rosewood Mantle, Dying Fireplace Embers, Wood Wainscoting, Cedar Shelving and Aged Paper." Honestly, this is the scent that got me to try Solstice Scents. I LOVE LIBRARIES. I love books and everything about them, and there is nothing I can think of that sounds nicer than smelling like a library. And somehow, they managed to make that a reality! This scent is amazing - it's rich, dark, woodsy, leathery...it smells just like a room full of old, dusty, leatherbound books. It's a bit mysterious and masculine and evocative, in a really nice way. This is something I want to wear when I'm spending a gloomy day at home, reading. I'm impressed with it!

Next, I have four from the Foxcroft Collection. Foxcroft is a fictional town created by Solstice Scents. The collection is intended to evoke the atmosphere of the quaint little town. So neat! I need to grab the other two in this collection, as well.

Maplewood Inn - This is described as "Maple, Woods, Amber, Benzoin, A Roaring Fire & A Hot Cup of Frothy Vanilla Chai". It is a warm and smoky scent! It starts out with the sweet and spicy vanilla chai and woods with a swirl of smoke, and slowly dries down to more subtle woods and maple. It is a very autumnal scent and very different from my usual type of scents. It is a very well done smoky fragrance and it reminds me of a cool morning in a cabin in the woods.

Blackburn's Parlor - This is described as "Vanilla Waffle Bowl, Vanilla & Chocolate Ice Creams, Sliced Bananas Smothered In Caramel Sauce & Topped With Whipped Cream." This scent is AMAZING! It smells, to me, exactly like a banana split. It starts out with the ice creams (you really can smell both vanilla and chocolate) and sliced bananas (the bananas do somehow smell SLICED). As the banana fades a bit, the caramel comes out. The scent dries down to the vanilla waffle bowl. It is a very well done sweet, foody scent. I definitely need a larger bottle of this.

Maine Moon - This is described as "Crisp Fall Air, Wood Smoke, Leather Seats & Concessions of Root Beer, Popcorn & Chocolate Covered Caramels." This is a very unique scent, reminiscent of a date to a drive-in movie! It starts out with a burst of root beer and popcorn, which is admittedly a strange combination. After a few moments, a really nice milk chocolate scent comes through with a bit of smoke. As it dries down, the leather note appears and it ends in leather and smoke. It's a super evocative scent, and probably not one I need a full size of, but wearing it is a fun experience.

Sycamore Sugarworks - This is described as "Caramelized Pear Tarts, Banana Apple Muffins, Spice Cakes With Rum Glaze, Cream Puffs & Maple Walnut Pastries." This is a pure, sweet bakery smell. On me, it is primarily banana apple muffins and spice cakes. The banana note is very much a banana bread smell, rather than the fresh banana of Blackburn's Parlor. This one stays sweet and muffinlike on me throughout wear. Hints of things like the rum glaze and maple walnut peek out at various points during wear, but the muffins never really fade. This is a super sweet, but really delicious scent. I would like to try this in a body cream!

Overall, I am really pleased and excited by my first experience with Solstice Scents. The fragrances are really unique, and I love that wearing them is an experience in and of itself. I have more samples to share in the near future, and I'm just as happy with those. I definitely recommend trying them if you're into unique scents - they do gourmands especially well.

Have you tried Solstice Scents? What fragrances have you been wearing lately?

I purchased these products with my own money and was not compensated for this review.

Birchbox - January 2015 - Unboxing

2015-01-07T08:45:00.004-08:00

SNOW DAY!

I am excited about this weather for one reason only - school was cancelled today, and thus, no work for me. So, not only am I having a lazy pampering day in my pajamas...but my Birchbox showed up, too!

This month, I chose one of the curated boxes - the Relax & Recharge box. It's supposed to be products to help you relax and take time for yourself, which I think is really important, post holidays.

I kind of forgot what the contents were by the time that it arrived, so it was pretty much a surprise anyway!
But here's what was inside.

Briogeo Don't Despair! Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask - This is a hydrating mask for the hair. I've sampled this before and I liked it! My hair gets so dry in winter, this is very welcome. The pot is big enough for 2-3 uses for me.

Manna Kadar Lip Locked in All of Me- This is a all-in-one lip primer, stain, and gloss. I got this in the shade Lucky last month, and I reall y liked it...it's a good light texture. This one is a bit of a darker shade, a mauvey color, and it's super pretty.

Perlier Intensive Nurturing Body Balm in Shea Lavender - This is a thick cream to smooth and soften. I don't love the scent (I'm picky about lavender) BUT it will be really great for my hands, feet, and elbows.

When Travelmate Sheet Mask - This is a soothing, nourishing mask meant to give a healthy glow. I really love sheet masks! However, these When masks are terribly overpriced (the set equals out to $14 a piece) so unless it works major wonders, I won't be buying any. But I'm excited to try it out!

Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream - This is a multi-tasking eye cream that battles wrinkles and dark circles. This is probably why I chose the box. I LOVE EYE CREAMS. It's a good size, too. happy to be trying this!

Tea Pigs tea temples - I love tea. It's one of my favorite extras. Birchbox, please send me tea ALWAYS.

I'm pretty happy with this box! I will use everything...it's good sizes, and great for post-holiday rejuvenating.

If you haven't tried Birchbox yet and want to, feel free to sign up using my referral link!

What was in your box this month?

Aromaleigh Ephemera - January 2014 Review and Unboxing

2015-01-06T04:58:00.002-08:00

Lately, I've been really excited about indie subscription services - and in fact, indie makeup in general. I started thinking about how much money I was spending on beauty products put out by big corporations, and how much better I'd feel about supporting small businesses run by people doing what they love. Luckily, there are more and more companies making this transition possible!

Aromaleigh has been around for 16 years now. They are a small company out of South Carolina making vegan, cruelty free cosmetics. They make beautiful collections inspired by history, mythology, feminism, literature, science, classical music, astronomy, botany...basically, all of the things I care about! They also support Autism Acceptance organizations, having an owner with autism, and that is a very important cause for me. They are truly a great company!

January marks a new chapter for them - their first subscription box! I scrambled to sign up when they were made available, and I received it yesterday. The box is $17.99 including shipping, and will be monthly. I am really impressed with the quality and thought that went into this box!

The shipping was super fast - she mailed it out on Friday, and I received it on Monday! It was packed in a bubble mailer, and it arrived in perfect condition.

I was really excited to open the mailer and find this adorable little box! The pretty sticker and ribbon make it feel like opening a present! I love that the box itself is marked with the month - it will make organization easy.

Opening it, I found the prettiest info sheet I've ever seen in a sub. It explains the theme, which is based on The White Witch from "The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe" in a really beautiful way. It also describes the items themselves. I really, really love the way she did the info sheet...reading it was a really nice part of the experience and felt more special than a simple list of items.

Underneath the sheet, you find all of the goodies. As you can see, she packed a lot into this little box! The turkish taffy was a really nice touch, and I kind of ate them while unboxing everything. In the box, she included two face products, two shadows (in adorable mini sizes), a sample of an upcoming blush, and samples from two other companies.

Locusta is a blush sample from an upcoming expansion to the Ignis Antiquita collection. It's a pretty coral color and I'll definitely have to check out the rest of the existing collection, as well as the upcoming expansion. I haven't tried this on my face yet, but will report back when I do!

We got two samples from other indie brands.

The first is a lip product from Dreamworld Hermetica. They are a new company for me and I was pretty happy to see something from them in here! This product is called "Ectoplasmic Lips" in the shade "Wytch's Heart", and it is not listed on their website (which is currently closed to orders as they add new products) so I think this is one of their new products. It's really interesting - the texture is somewhere between a lipstick and a gloss. It goes on shiny and shimmery and a bit sheer. It looks kind of scary bronze in the tub, but looks really gorgeous on the lips. I've included it in the look I did at the end of this post.

The second is a perfume sample from Ten Three Labs. This is a company I've been wanting to try, and indie perfumes are my current new passion! This sample is "Superstition's Willing Victim" and it is described as bay rum, peppermint, tea, lime, coconut, and sugarcane. I really like this! When I opened it to sniff it, I thought that it smelled a bit like a rum and coke with peppermint, and when I read the notes, I was surprised how spot on my first impression was! It's a really unique scent, and not one I probably would have chosen on my own, but am so glad that I got to try it. I am definitely interested in trying more scents from this company.

And now, the main products. As I mentioned we got two face products and two shadows. I really love the labels and the fact that the name of each product is on the top! I always find it hard to photograph products in sifter jars, so I've posted the descriptions of each product and some swatches of each!

I find the descriptions of each to be spot on...and yes, they are as beautiful as they sound!

Here is each product swatched in order, on bare skin, in artificial light in my bedroom. As with all products like this, the shimmer doesn't show in photos as much as you'd like, but it's all sparkly and gorgeous.

And here are the products in natural light. They are nicely pigmented and have a great texture. The gold sheen in the White Witch is truly gorgeous and I wish photographs picked it up better!

Here's a quick look I did using all of the products except for the blush sample. Everything was really easy to work with and wears absolutely beautifully!

Overall, I am loving this box. The products are so beautiful and well thought out and the quality is amazing. I'm so glad I signed up for Ephemera, and I think this has the potential to become my favorite sub!

Have you tried any indie subs yet? Would you?

I purchased all items mentioned myself and was not compensated for this review.

Blog name change!

2015-01-02T23:37:00.000-08:00

Years overdue, the blog is finally getting a new name! "I Sold The World" will now be called "Clumsy Chromaticity"!

I'm excited for more changes coming up!

Birchbox - December 2014 (two boxes!)

2014-12-29T12:56:00.003-08:00

Well, I'm really late on these and I have no excuse. But, I am getting two Birchboxes right now (I'll probably cut one out after January and I spend my points!)

The first month that I got two boxes, I got the same box on both accounts and that was a bit of a bummer. This month, though, I got two different boxes, and I like both!

Box 1:

This was the curated box this month. I chose it because I really wanted to try the Davines serum!

Ruffian Nail Lacquer in Ruffian Red - I'm not huge on red polishes, but I don't have many, and I like Ruffian polishes - I think they have a nice shiny finish and they last longer than a couple of hours on me, which is a feat!

Cynthia Rowley Beauty Creamy Lip Stain in Sugar - This is the prettiest natural pink stain. When I buy things like this, I tend to go for bold colors so it was nice to get a nice natural color...this is very much a "my lips but better" shade for me and I like it a lot.

Davines Replumping Hair Filler (with bonus shampoo and conditioner packets) - This is a leave in that is supposed to help your hair look thick and shiny. I can always use that! So far, I like it. No mind blowing miracles, but it leaves my hair looking and feeling nice. (I haven't tried the packets yet!)

Joie Folle de Joie perfume - This is a fresh scent with mandarin. I'll admit I don't love it, I'm just into different kinds of scents lately. But I passed it along to a friend who will appreciate it.

Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentre - This is a moisturizer that can also serve as a primer and makeup remover. I've sampled this before, and I really like it! I only use it as a moisturizer, but it leaves my skin soft without feeling greasy.

Overall, I'm really happy with this box, and everything is getting good use.

The 2nd box came in the special blue holiday box - so cute!

In this box, I selected a sample - the Manna Kadar Lip Locked. I received the sample I chose! Here's everything I got:

Manna Kadar Lip Locked in Lucky - This is a combo lipstain, gloss, and primer in a pretty mauvey color. It's another really natural shade for me, which I like! I really like the light texture of this and am definitely interested in trying more of them.

Yu-Be Moisturizing Cream - This is a tiny tube of moisturizing cream you can use anywhere on your body. I've frankly gotten about a million of these samples in various places. It's not bad! But it's nothing special to me. I'm using this one up on my elbows.

Sumita Color Contrast Eyeliner - This is a creamy liner in the prettiest gold/olive shade. I am really happy with this...I already had the black and love how creamy and long lasting these are. I will use this one often!

Rusk Texture Spray - I used to hate hairsprays of any kind, and I would immediately toss them. But lately I've been wearing my hair wavy/curly, and a good texturizing spray is appreciated. This one is nice - it sprays on with a fine, light mist that never feels wet and just adds some nice texture and hold.

Royal Apothic Cuppa Cuppa Firming Tea Treatment Mask - This is a mask made from tea...masks and tea are two of my favorite things, so I love this! It has a nice tingle when you use it, and it left my skin feeling fresh and soft. I'd love to get my hands on some more of this!

Overall, I'm really happy with both of my boxes this month, and I'm excited for January!

What was in your box?

If you haven't tried Birchbox yet, feel free to sign up using my referral link here! :)

Haus of Gloi - indie perfume oil review

2014-12-27T12:20:00.001-08:00

Well, this is about two weeks later than I intended it to be. I'm going to blame it on Christmas and not at all slackerhood and procrastination. Right? Right.

Anyway, I've mentioned before that one of my newer interests is in perfume oils - specifically, unique ones. I love fragrance, but I don't just want to smell like *perfume* (you know, that scent you think of when you think of perfume? Yeah, that's not me.) After months of looking and considering and telling myself "but you don't need more fragrances", I finally gave in and ordered some samples from a company called Haus of Gloi.

Haus of Gloi is a small, two person company. They are a vegan company, and everything is cruelty-free, handmade and from scratch. They make perfume oils, but also things like whipped soap, pumpkin butter (their version of body butter), foaming scrubs, soaps, and hair oils. They have a permanent collection of scents, but they are big into seasonal collections!

This review is on perfume oils...I haven't yet tried any of their various body care products (but they're on my to-do list!)

I ended up ordering 4 samples from their Yule collection (and they threw in a 5th as a free sample), a full sized bottle from the Yule collection, and one from the permanent collection.

I am by no means a perfume expert, so I'm just going to talk about each scent I tried and how it smells to/on me.

Each sample is in a little vial with the label wrapped around it. I think the labels are adorable! The full size is in an amber bottle with the same pretty label. They came safely packaged with a little handwritten thank you note (I love touches like that!)

Now, onto the perfumes themselves! I'll start with the permanent scent, then move through the Yule releases I tried.

Elevenses - This is described by HoG as "Not quite breakfast and not quite lunch, it's the little sip and nibble in between... Fluffy little orange cakes, sugar coated toasty almonds and a wee steaming cup of black tea."

I couldn't say no to this one, as a LOTR fan! And besides that, it sounded delicious. This is a really nice scent! On initial application, you smell the orange. It is a tart, orange zest kind of scent. The orange is almost too strong in the vial, but it is not overwhelming once it touches the skin.

After it settles in, the sugared almonds come through a bit more, though the orange is still present. Through most of the wear, it smells like orange glazed almonds! I don't get much tea on me, maybe just a hint. This is a really unique citrus scent - it doesn't have that freshness that most have, instead, it's more warm and cozy. It lasts a pretty long time - at the end of the day, I could still smell it on my wrist. I really like this one, and am interested in trying it in other products.

Sweet Potato Treat - This is described as "Sweet potatoes with mild spices, butter and brown sugar baked off with marshmallows."

This is a delicious scent, and probably my second favorite of the Yule scents I tried. It is a very sweet foodie scent, but it doesn't smell overwhelmingly sweet like some do. In the vial, I smell buttery marshmallows. It reminds me of making rice crispy treats! Once it's applied to the skin, the spices come out. They are nice and warm (predominantly cinnamon), but not so spicy as to completely overtake the toasty marshmallowyness. It wears well - the spices mellow without disappearing, and the sweet potato and brown sugar come out a bit more. This is one I will buy next year, for sure, and in multiple formats!

Parkin - This is described as "Glorious ginger cakes celebrating Guy Fawkes Day! Brown sugar, black treacle, oats, a peculiar blend of white spices tossed with chopped roasted chestnuts and coated with the lightest of icings."

This is a very spicy scent - for me, a bit too spicy. It smells good, but kind of reminds me of spending a little bit too much time in the cinnamon potpourri aisle at a hobby store - it's all I can smell after a while! I don't really notice the chestnuts or brown sugar behind all of the spices - but my body chemistry tends to amp up spice notes, so it might not be quite as overwhelmingly spicy on others. If a spicy cinnamon gingerbread scent is what you're after, this is definitely one! I will use up my sample, but I don't think I'll buy any more of this scent in perfume - it might, however, be nice as a soap.

Eggnoggin - This is described as "The Haus 'nog! Cream, sugar and a shot of dark rum topped with fresh grated nutmeg."

This does smell just like eggnog in the vial. Eggnog is something I like every once in a while, so I had to give this a try. The bad news is, on my skin, it doesn't work so well. What smells nice in the vial smells like some sort of ointment once I put it on my skin! I think it's the combo of nutmeg and rum? After I've worn it for a half hour or so, the ointment scent fades enough for the creaminess to come out, and it's okay then. But I can't really get past smelling like diaper rash ointment for the first few minutes enough to wear this one much. I will finish this sample in my oil burner, I think! This is another one I might try in soap form, but it doesn't work on me as a perfume.

Fancy Bread - This is described as "Ripe banana, roasted nuts and brown sugar folded into a delicious quick bread."

I wasn't sure about this one in the vial - all I could smell was that synthetic banana smell. But once I put it on my skin, it was really nice - it does smell just like fresh baked banana bread. It's warm and sweet and I think the banana, nuts, and sugar are all there in perfect amounts. This one lasts quite a while. I like it, even if it makes me crave banana bread. I am interested in trying this one as a body butter.

Rosy Cheeked - This is described as "Pink grapefruit, fir needles, juniper berries, rosemary, a sprig of parsley and bright winter lilies."

This is the free sample they sent me - it's not one I would have picked at the time, because when I made my order, I was in the mood for cozy foody scents. However, I ended up really loving this one!

In the vial, and on the skin, at first it is pure grapefruit. It's slightly sweet, tart, and fresh. As it wears, the fir, juniper, and rosemary come out. It's a bright scent, clean and fresh and not too strong. I love grapefruit scents in general, but the notes underneath make it really unique.

Hearth - This is described as "The warm glowing center of home. Autumns last apple pickings, warm bread, orange rind, various fire roasted nuts, cracked black pepper all nailed down by an oozing sticky benzoin."

This is the one full sized bottle I got. I did so because they were out of samples and I was that desperate to try this scent! I'm glad I did. This is my favorite of the bunch!

It smells a little strange in the bottle and I wasn't sure how it would smell on me. When I put in on though, it's great. It's a very homey scent. I get the fresh apples and the bread at first, and then the pepper and orange rind come out a bit. It smells warm without being too spicy. I love that the apples are present, but it is not an overwhelming apple scent. There's a lot going on with it in a good way. It just smells cozy and homey and it feels like the holidays to me. I want to try this one in a soap and a body butter next year (I'm sure I'll still have some perfume oil!)

Overall, my first experience with Haus of Gloi was a lot of fun! I will definitely be ordering from them again.

I'll continue my venture in to indie perfumes soon - I have a ton of Solstice Scents samples coming up! That one will likely have to be broken into two posts.

Have you tried Haus of Gloi yet? If so, how do you like them? If not, what are your favorite fragrances? Have you tried any indie oils?

I've been MIA!

2014-12-09T13:45:00.002-08:00

Yes, I haven't been here in a while. It's partly because I started a new job in August and adjusting to new hours is always tricky for me.

But even more than that, it's because I've honestly gotten bored to death with most of my sub boxes, and standard beauty products in general. It was bound to happen!

The good news is, I have been venturing into the world of indies - indie makeup, bath and body, and perfumes, and I'm excited again. I think I'm going to be posting about more of those, here! And while I've been trying quite a few new things, I'm always looking to discover more.

SO, have you tried many indie companies? If so, what ones would you recommend to me?

I hope to have a little review of some Haus of Gloi fragrances up this weekend!

Memebox - Superbox #41 - My Cute Wishlist review and unboxing

2014-10-05T14:06:00.003-07:00

You all know I'm a sucker for a subscription/beauty box. Combine that with my curiosity and fascination about Korean beauty products and cosmetics, add Memebox offering to send me a box to review, and you have one very happy camper!

Have you heard of Memebox yet? They are the most popular beauty box in Korea! A while back, they started offering boxes to the US and other countries, as well!

Memebox isn't really like the other boxes we have now, For one, they're not really a sub box - you order boxes from them individually, and they do not offer a recurring subscription. They offer several different types of boxes! I'll explain a little bit about each box before I show you what I received!

Memebox Global: This is their "signature" box - it contains a range of products (skincare, cosmetics, haircare, body care, all fair game) and you receive 4-8 deluxe and full sized products. I'll say that most of the boxes I've seen reviewed have had closer to 8 products in them, with great sizes, and they are always a great value! I need to snag me one of these soon. THe downside is that you have to order these WAY in advance, they sell out quickly!

Memebox Special: These seem to be like the global boxes, with full and deluxe products, but they revolve around a theme! Some of the themes currently available are masks, tea tree cosmetics, Beauty 911, and Green Food Cosmetics (there are many more, too!)

Superbox: A superbox is a box with ALL full sized products! They also go by theme - some example themes have been The Honey Box, Makeup Edition, Yogurt Cosmetics, and Holika Holika. These are great if you're looking for full sized products. The box I received is a Superbox!

Luckybox: A Luckybox is a mishmash box containing favorite products from previous boxes. They make a great introduction to Memebox for people who are curious, or if you want to see some of the goodies you missed out on!

The prices vary on most of these boxes! Memebox Global is $23 (plus shipping). Superboxes and Special boxes vary by theme, with most falling between $23 and $32. Every box I've seen from them has been a great value and I am pretty excited to try out some more.

Now, onto the box I received!

When Memebox said they were sending me a box, they did not tell me what the box would be! So, I was really excited and couldn't wait to see what was inside when I received that cute pink bubble mailer!

I opened it up to find that I had recieved Superbox 41: My Cute Wishlist! As a huge fan of cute packaging and products, I was overjoyed. Here's how Memebox describes this box!

We've searched and scoured through the Korean beauty scene to find you all the beauty things adorbs and irresistibly cute! From miniature beauty trinkets to cute face makeup kits and skincare potions, these precious little beauty finds will make you "oooh" because of the trademark Korean charming packaging and "aahhh" because of how cute it makes you look. Carry around these beauty treasures wherever you go and make your friends green with jealousy.

Sounds good to me! Immediately, I noticed how great Memebox's info card is - it has photos of each item as well as pricing, a description, and directions for use. This is great because the directions on the packaging of many of these products is, obviously, Korean!

See all that cuteness under there? Here's what's inside!

Etude Missing U Hand Cream - This is made with organic olive oil and shea butter. It comes in several varieties, each container shaped like an endangered species, and in four different scents! This fairy penguin contains cream scented like baby powder! I adore this. It is so cute, I love penguins and the idea of using cosmetics to raise awareness for endangered species is awesome. The handcream is nice - easily absorbed, leaves my hands soft, and the baby powder scent is soft and fresh and not overpowering. I want to collect the other 3!

Beauty People Snow White Special Edition Season 2 - This is a set of 5 creamy, shimmery, eye pencils in an adorable tin. These are in the shades Glimmer Black, Glimmer Brown, Glimmer Bronze, Glimmer Gold, and Glimmer Beige. I am being honest when I say these are some of the nicest eye pencils I've ever tried! They are so soft and creamy and very pigmented. These swatches were a single stroke with light pressure! And, once they set for a few seconds, they did not budge, even with repeated rubbing and some water! I really love them and have been using them most every day!

Pure Smile Neco Punch Point Pad in Lemongrass and Hibiscus - These pads are soaked in Vitamin E, Collagen, Hyaluronic Acid, and arbutin and they work to moisturize and control excess sebum and secretions. These are so cute. They're like sheet masks, only they're spot treatments. I've been using the lemongrass ones on a trouble area on my cheek, and I like the fresh feeling it leaves me with! They smell amazing, too.

Kokostar Split End Therapy - This is a treatment with 8 amino acids that helps prevent breakage and static electricity, as well as to protect the hair and mend split ends and damage. It is meant to be a ponytail treatment that you tie on with the included (adorable) hair band. My hair is currently too short for a pony tail, and while I'm sure you could use it another way, I think I'm actually going to save it until my hair grows out a bit so I can get the full effect. Really excited to eventually try this!

Etude Sweet Recipe Candy Stick in Sour Lemon Candy - This is a glossy lip balm/tint with a sheer color that moisturizes and contains sugarcane and sugar maple! This one, lemon, doesn't have too much tint, really just adds a hint of color, and is nice and soft and slightly glossy. It has a light lemon scent, which I love! I like the cute shape - makes it easy to pick out of my bag easily. I'd be interested to see if the other flavors have more color to them, but I really like this!

Pure Smile Muddy Girl mud pack in Red Clay - This is a mud mask that soothes, purifies, smooths, and moisturizes. It also comes in a charcoal version, but I got the Red Clay. I tried it and I really liked what it did for my skin - it made it feel nice and clean and refreshed, but not at all dried out. I'd like to get my hands on some more of these! I'm a sucker for masks.

a;t fox Creams - These are three different creams - Lifting Cream, to firm and lessen signs of aging, Water Gel Cream, to moisturize and lock in moisture, and Whitening Capsule Cream to hydrate and brighten. HOW CUTE ARE THESE? I love the little cupcake pots, and even after the creams are gone, I will be finding something else ot use them for. I like all three of the creams! The Water Gel cream is great - not too heavy, I like using it in the mornings. The whitening cream is a gel, and it feels nice on the skin. It's too early to tell if it brightens, but so far I'm liking it. I like the lifting cream in my undereye area, it has a great consistency and keeps that area feeling nice and moisturized. I am really impressed with all three and want to try more from the brand!

As a little bonus, they also sent a cute little pencil sharpener, which I can always use!

Overall, I'm kind of in love with this box! Not only is everything absolutely adorable, but I love the range of products - hair, facial skincare, hands, makeup, lips...such a great mix. I have honestly been using everything (except the hair treatment, but I will get to that when my hair needs it!) almost daily and it's all so great.

This box was sent to me for free, but it costs $23 and if I had paid for it, I would have felt like I got an amazing deal. This box is out of stock now, but they do sometimes restock boxes, and there are also new versions of the Cute Wishlist. If you like what you see, you can order boxes at memebox.com!

What do you think? Have you tried a Memebox yet?

*Disclaimer: This post contains products sent to me for review purposes. I was not otherwise compensated and all opinions are my own.

Popsugar Must Have box - September 2014

2014-09-28T13:03:00.000-07:00

I thought about cancelling Popsugar before September...not because I don't like it (I have actually loved it every month!) but because I really need to start saving money for a new computer, winter clothes...everything...but then they put out a spoiler. And the spoiler reeled me in. SO, here I am!

Popsugar is one of my favorite boxes, because they send out such a mix of things - beauty, fashion, home, tech, fitness, food...I really love the variety.

This month, they shipped much smaller boxes. For me, this is a good thing - I like having different sized boxes for storage. They're still cute and pink, though!

Tilo Scarves Modal Gradation Scarf in Raisin - I decided to wear this for the picture so you could see how cool it is. This is the spoiler item that kept me subscribed! It is a super soft, silky ombre scarf that goes from gray to a plummy raisin color. It is so soft and silky! It retails for $125...and I would never spend that much on a scarf. But for the price of the box, I am beyond happy! I love scarves, and most of mine are bright colors or busy prints. This is such a pretty autumnal neutral for me!

Letter C Design Gold Foil Arrow Pencils - This is kind of a weird inclusion for me, just because I don't even think anyone really uses pencils anymore, let alone ones that you sharpen. However, they are cute and I will use them, and stash them around the house for when I need them. They come with a sharpener which is handy, because I don't have one! These are the least exciting item for me this month, but they're definitely not a BAD item.

Oribe Superfine Purse Size Hair Spray - This is a great hairspray with a fine spray and great hold. It also smells nice! I used to hate getting hairspray in subs, and I gave it away every time. Then I chopped my hair off and started needing/wanting some hold for my style, and I regretted getting rid of all of my hairsprays. So this one is very welcome!

Rifle Paper Co Garance Dore Assorted Girls Set - This is a cute set of cards with four designs on them. I love Rifle Paper Co. and their products, and I love sending snail mail. I'll be writing notes to my penpals I've been neglecting for months on these!

Nicole Miller Stereo Earbuds - These are cute cobalt blue earbuds. I have mixed feelings about these. On one hand, I had been wishing for some earbuds or headphones from a sub for a while. And these are CUTE...I love this shade of blue and the shape is different. However, they are uncomfortable in my ears, and more importantly, the sound is not great. These only retail for $20, so I wasn't expecting anything amazing (I am a bit picky about headphones and sound quality and usually spend between $80 and $100 on them), but for that same $20, I could get something much nicer...even some basic Skullcandy buds sound better. So, good effort, Popsugar, but these just don't do it for me.

Nike $20 Gift Card - This is $20 to use on Nike's site and a tape measure (to measure yourself for their new bras!) I won't be getting a bra, but I will need new shoes soon, so I'll be using this, for sure. I love that it can be used on anything in the site, I hate when brands call things gift cards that aren't, but this one has no limitations!

Urban Remedy Almond Brownie - This is a raw, organic almond brownie. I honestly usually hate any kind of "raw" food involving chocolate because the texture grosses me out. But I really found myself liking this one! It is nice and chewy and not too dry. The downside is that the calorie content was crazy! I won't be buying any of these, but it was fun to try.

Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Sea Salt & Almonds - I love me some Ghirardelli, and these are delicious. They have the perfect balance of sweet and salty for me. Popsugar can send me some of these every month, please and thanks!

Overall, I am really happy with this month! The scarf makes the box for me, and everything else is a nice bonus. It definitely feels like an early fall box. I might have a hard time cancelling again for October!

If you are interested in trying Popsugar, please feel free to sign up using my referral link here!

What do you think of this box?

Boxycharm, September 2014 Review and Unboxing

2014-09-28T10:01:00.002-07:00

I'm such a sucker for subs. Obviously. I'd been hearing about Boxycharm for a while, but never signed up...until I saw last month's box, which was so great, I had to sign up for September!

So, this is my first box, and I have to say, I'm pretty impressed. Boxycharm is $21 a month and offers full and deluxe sized products. When they launched, they sent out all drugstore brands, but now they send out a good mix of a bit of everything!

September's theme was "Fashion Week Fabulous" and it promised runway-ready products. I received five full sized products!

The packaging is super cute! It says "Hello Charmer" on the side!

Like most other subs, it has an info card, which I love. Everything appears to be well padded. However, there was a small amount of damage to a product (and leakage of another). But, very minor, and everything still looked pretty good.

Coastal Scents Go Palette in Beijing - They sent out these Go palettes, which are inspired by different cities! Each one has 12 shadows. I really like Coastal Scents - they are my favorite cheap/budget shadows! They're always really pigmented and nicely textured.

Beijing is rosy and gold tones. As you can see, one shadow arrived broken. However, it was easy enough to clean up. These colors are very pretty and I've used it a few times!

Tarina Tarantino Eye Dream Hyperlight - This is a cute pinky toned liquid highlighter with a cool clicky-brush applicator. Other subscribers received a mascara by this brand (and I'm glad I got this!) It is really great for brightening up the eye area and I've been using it daily! So glad I finally got to try this brand!

NCLA nail lacquer - I love NCLA! I don't wear reds very often, but this one is super bright and beautiful. I think I'll wear it with a vintagey dress soon! I love NCLA's formula, it lasts pretty well on me.

Harvey Prince Hello - This is one of my favorite scents and I was SO happy to get a full purse spray of this! It did leak a bit, but I didn't mind because it just made the rest of the box smell amazing. It's a great citrusy scent that isn't too sweet or too strong, great for everyday use.

Tarte Lipsurgence lip gloss in Tipsy - This is a cute sheer coral gloss! I love tarte, and while I don't wear gloss often, I was happy to try tarte's gloss. I like it! Not too sticky, lasts pretty well, and I like this shade a lot. I love this over a lipstain!

Overall, I think this was an amazing box! The value is so great and everything is really nice. So glad I tried Boxycharm out.

If you haven't tried it yet, please feel free to sign up! Here is my referral link!

What do you think of this box?

Ipsy - September 2014 review/unboxing

2014-09-28T08:45:00.000-07:00

Ipsy and I have a very on-again, off-again relationship. I have joined and cancelled more times than I care to count! However, I cancelled again this month after only 2 months back with them, and I think I'm done this time.

Don't get me wrong, Ipsy is a really cool service, and they do offer great product sizes. But I think it's best suited for either those new to makeup, or those working on building up their collections. They send out things that aren't terrible, but very rarely do they send out anything new, exciting, or unique. And my makeup collection now is to the point that yet another black eyeliner or pinky lipgloss is just not exciting unless it's from a new brand or a really great color. And I feel that Ipsy sends me the same old stuff, all the time!

That said, here's my September bag.

September's theme was "Street Style", and it is reflected in the bag itself. This is one of my favorite bags from Ipsy! Soft, in a gunmetal color, with cute square studs. I'm using it in my bag right now!

Pacifica Eye Pencil in Gunmetal - This is a shimmery gunmetal shade. It's okay! I would have loved a fall color, but this is fine. Pigmentation is okay. It is somewhat creamy. It lasts an average amount of time. NOthing terrible, nothing to write home about.

Alterna CC Cream 10 in 1 - This is a nice product...I love a good leave-in, and I love that this one offers heat protection as well as moisture and shine. I think the "10 in 1" promise is kind of silly. Basically, it is a leave in conditioner/cream with heat protection. Calling this 10 in 1 is like calling your shoes 2 in one because they cover your feet AND protect your soles. Marketing silliness. But it works well and leaves my hair nice and soft.

Cailyn Art Touch tinted lip gloss - Oh, yay, a neutral pinky lipgloss from a brand I've sampled a thousand times, that is drugstore quality at high end prices. THE JOY. This will be passed on to a more lipgloss loving friend.

Crown Brush Infinity Dual Ended Shadow/Crease brush: This is my favorite product this month. It is nice and soft, and I love that the crease brush is small, I needed a much smaller one for detail work.

Nyx Hot Singles eye shadow - I got this in an oxblood shade. It's a pretty color...but I dislike Nyx eyeshadow. I love other products by them, but I find the shadows not very pigmented and quite powdery. This will also be passed along as a gift.

Overall, I just didn't think this bag was great. It was okay. Some gifts for my sister, so that's a bonus! But I am definitely over Ipsy.

What do you think?

Birchbox - September 2014 "Fresh Paint" review and unboxing

2014-09-06T08:31:00.002-07:00

I usually get my Birchbox toward the middle of the month, and usually about a week after I get a shipping notice. So, imagine my surprise when I came home yesterday to find my box waiting for me! Definitely the earliest I have ever gotten it, before my shipping email arrived!

The theme for September is "Fresh Paint" and it's all about saying goodbye to summer and gearing up for fall's colors, textures, and fashions. It is also Birchbox's anniversary month! They sent out cute patterned boxes this month, and it sounds like the boxes might have multiple designs. Mine is adorable and I am already using it to store some samples on my shelf!

This month, Birchbox gave us the opportunity to select a sample once again. I don't remember what all of the options were, but there were 4 options and another curated box. I selected Macadamia Healing Oil Spray as my sample. I was delighted to feel how heavy my box was this month!

Here's what was inside.

You can see the cute patterned box in the back! I'm interested to see if others get different patterns! I received five samples and a "Birchbox Find", which is a mass market product they send out as an extra.

Macadamia Healing Oil Spray - This was the sample I selected. It is a lightweight oil spray for hair that fights frizz, dryness, dullness, and protects. I've used the regular oil before and really loved it, so I was excited to try the spray version! It has the same scent as the regular oil and I love how light and easy it is to apply. I love hair oils, and this one does a great job of keeping my hair soft, silky, and shiny. Once I use up my giant hair oil stash, this is probably the one I will repurchase!

TEMPTU S/B Highlighter in Champagne - This is a liquid shimmer that adds some shimmer and glow to your look! The color is called champagne, but it is actually a bit darker than what I generally think of when I think of that shade. I'm very fair, and on me, this is too dark to be a highlighter. I am going to try it out on my eyes, as a base under bronzey shadows, perhaps! I do like the shimmeryness and it is not sticky.

Harvey Prince Hello - This is a perfume featuring meyer lemon, mandarin, other citrus, and floral notes. Harvey Prince is one of my favorite perfume brands, and I already have a rollerball of this scent. It is one of my favorites, so the sample is more than welcome! It is citrusy, and not too sweet...it is great for a hot sticky day, but not out of place for fall, either. It isn't heavy or overwhelming.

Avene Cleanance Soap-Free Gel Cleanser - This is a cleanser infused with French thermal spring water. It is great for oily or blemish prone skin, which is exactly what I have these days! I really like this. It makes my skin feel clean and soft without feeling dry or tight. It also seems to be helping my current breakout, so bonus!

Tocca Crema de Mano in Bianca - This is a hand cream featuring a green tea and lemon scent! I have been lusting over these Tocca hand creams since the first time BB sent them out, ages ago. So excited to finally get one! This is great - the texture is moisturizing without being too heavy - it is quickly absorbed. The scent is delicious and citrusy. This made its way immediately into my bag.

BIRCHBOX FIND: Chapstick Hydration Lock - This is a double ended chapstick! One side is moisturizing, and the other is renewing. Both sides feel nice on the lips with no nasty flavor or scent. This is a great extra for fall.

Overall, I am SUPER happy with this month's Birchbox! The sample sizes are amazing and I am happy with all of the products! I am not sure how much use I'll get out of the highlighter, but the other items have already made their way into my routine. Awesome.

If you've read my blog long, you probably know that subscription boxes are my addiction, and I've tried so many. Birchbox is the one I always go back to, and the first one I recommend to people. If you haven't tried it yet, feel free to sign up using my referral lin k here..

What was in your box this month?

Birchbox August 2014

2014-08-24T11:39:00.003-07:00

Wow, it's been a while since I've been around! It's been a busy few months, and blogging unfortunately took a backseat to moving, leaving a job, starting a new job, etc. BUT. I'm back and hoping to do a better job!

To start things off, I finally cracked into my August Birchbox and tried most of the items inside. This month, Birchbox did something they've been trying lately - letting subscribers pick a sample! For August, we had a choice of a cream eyeshadow, a bronzer, a lip/cheek tint, an eye pencil, and a curated box called the "everygirl box". After some debating, I chose the Laura Gellar cream eyeshadow in "Silver Sands". I had trouble selecting my sample at first, due to site traffic, but I did finally get to make my selection and I received what I chose!

For some reason, my computer refuses to rotate my images and save them today! So, it's on its side and I'm sorry.

The theme for this month was "Lighten Up", and it was all about doing just that. I received five items, including my selected sample.

Laura Geller Cool Lids Cream Eyeshadow in Silver Sands - This is a shimmery silvery cream shadow designed to shimmer like the inside of a seashell. I chose this color because I thought it'd be a great base for other shadows, and I was right. But it is also beautiful on its own! It has the perfect amount of shimmer and the texture is great. I prefer to apply it with my fingers! I am really interested in getting my hands on a few more shades of this.

Harvey Prince Ageless Body Cream - This is a nice moisturizer with the Ageless scent, which is a fruity grapefruit and mango fragrance. Harvey Prince is my favorite perfume company, and I actually have a huge bottle of this perfume, so getting the body cream was pretty great! It smells just as good as the perfume, and the texture is nice - not too heavy, but rich enough to work. I might be seeking out the cream versions of all of my favorite HP scents.

nugg Beauty Revitalizing Face Mask - This is a cute little pod containing a white mask. It has peppermint, olive, and several other oils and it really did make my face feel amazing. It was nice and cooling without being tingly or harsh, and my skin felt soft, plump, and hydrated afterwards. I love the little pods, so the mask will be fresh each time. I plan to pick up a few more of these. This was my surprise favorite of the box!

Neil George shampoo and conditioner - Okay, I wasn't too excited to get these. I have enough shampoo and conditioner stashed to last a lifetime. BUT, the sample sizes are really nice, and these are a cult favorite. They boast vitamin C and botanical extracts. I haven't tried them yet, but I am pretty excited to see what all the hype is. They smell nice!

Overall, I'm pretty happy with this Birchbox! While it wasn't my favorite, the shadow and mask especially are awesome, and everything will be used.

What was in your box this month?

As always, if you haven't tried Birchbox out yet, feel free to sign up using my referral link!

Beauty Box 5 - April 2014

2014-04-17T18:35:00.000-07:00

I love April! Things finally start getting color again, it is usually a bit warmer than freezing, and it's my birth month. So, I was especially excited to get my subs this month...birthday presents!

Beauty Box 5 is a great monthly sub. For $12 a month, they provide a great mix of beauty products - makeup, skincare, and tools.

For April, they used a theme of "shades of beauty" and they've focused on looks that allow you to slow down and do a bit of leisurely layering. Interesting!

Here's what I got.

First glance: The box is nice and full! I love that they don't use excess packaging - as much fun as pretty packaging is, sometimes it's really nice when a company is kind to the environment. Here are the goodies!

BH Cosmetics California Collection eyeshadow sampler - This is a sampler of 3 eyeshadows...a brown, a purple, and a gold. I haven't opened this, because I actually already have the entire collection, so I figured I'd pass this along to someone who hasn't tried them!

I love BH Cosmetics shadows. They are nicely pigmented, but not crazily so...so you can make them as bold as you want, but they can also be worn more sheer for fun subtle color. They are such a great value for the cost - beautiful colors, good quality, and they have a huge range of shades, from super brights to subtle neutrals. I hope the person I give this sampler to loves the shadows as much as I do!

Bonne Bell Lip Definer in Warm Brick - This is a nice soft lip pencil. I like the shade a lot, it is a very wearable color, and it is versatile enough to be worn with several different shades of lipstick or gloss. I tried it out and it lasted most of the day without drying my lips. I didn't even know that Bonne Bell made makeup other than Lip Smackers! I'm definitely interested in trying out more.

Jergens Natural Glow 3 Days to Glow Moisturizer - This is a gradual self tanner. Now, I will just say that I never, ever use tanners. I am very light skinned and I am unable to tan...any tan, therefore, looks super unnatural on me. So, I will not be trying this sample. However, I will happily pass it along to a friend who loves tanners and I'm excited to see how she likes it!

Nicka K New York Hydro Lipstick - This is a hydrating lipstick in a pretty peachy shade. I really love the texture - it isn't too drying, but it sets and lasts a pretty long time! I only had to touch up a couple of times in the day, and I am generally hard on lipstick. I'm really happy with this!

Blum Naturals All Purpose Cleansing Wipes - These are handy wipes that can be used to remove makeup or for nearly any purpose! They smell like grapefruit and are not irritating on the skin at all. I love wipes and use them daily for all kinds of things. These are great, and one of my favorite things in the box!

Overall, this is another good month of BB5. There are a couple of items I won't be using, but that isn't a reflection on the quality of the products, just my personal needs.

Here are swatches of the lip liner and lipstick, in order. Such pretty, wearable shades! BB5 always sends great, useable products.

Have you tried Beauty Box 5 yet? If not, you can check it out at http://beautybox5.com :)

Popsugar Must Have - March 2014

2014-03-31T18:00:00.000-07:00

Popsugar has consistently been one of my favorite boxes! I just really like the variety of items we get- my beauty stash gets a bit out of control, so it's fun to get lifestyle items, too!

March's box arrived in decent time...it was actually the first box to show up this month. The theme is all about welcoming spring and "putting a spring in your step", which I am more than happy to do. Here's what was in it!

Snapea Crisps - These are a snack made from peas! Sounds weird, but they're super good - light and crisp with just enough salt. These would definitely be a good alternative to chips and other salty snacks. I am going to be on the lookout for these!

Nature's Bakery Strawberry Fig bar - This is just what it sounds like - an all nature newton-type bar with strawberry fig filling. These are actually delicious, and while I don't usually buy bars like these, I would not be opposed to eating them again.

Jurlique Herbal Recovery Advanced Serum - I love serums. I'm all about skincare these days and I am always excited to get a great product. This serum fights dullness and fine lines while hydrating. It smells great and I love the organic ingredients! This is one of my favorite products this month, for sure!

Baublebar Elephant Ring Tree - How cute is this?? It's an adorable little ring holder. I don't really wear rings, but I like this so much I don't care! It looks adorable on my dresser. They have other animals available, and I kind of want to get a few more to keep him company!

Dogeared Lucky Horseshoe Make a Wish Necklace - This is a really cool concept. It's a wishbone charm on a thin cord. When you wear it for the first time, you're supposed to make a wish. Then, when the cord wears out and falls off, your wish is ready to come true. Such a cute idea. It's a little short, almost like a choker on me, but I like it and will wear it often. I've already made my wish!

Activeforever Fusion Exercise Ball - Okay, this is obviously a terrible picture, as it hasn't been inflated yet. But this is a small stability ball. I need to start pilates and yoga again big time, so this will come in handy!

Brokedown Blue Ikat Scarf - The star of the box - a gorgeous blue printed scarf. I love it and have already worn it several times! It's soft and not too thick or thin, nice and flowy and just beautiful. This is the star of the box for me!

Overall, I am super pleased with this box! It is probably my favorite I have received from them. I am so excited to see what April brings!

Here's the Brokedown scarf being worn. I so love the shade of blue!

What do you think of this month's box?

Birchbox - March 2014

2014-03-29T11:40:00.000-07:00

Now that it's nearly April, I'm trying to get caught up on everything I'm behind on - namely, posting my March subs!

Birchbox is normally one of the first to ship and arrive. This month, however, they seemed to have some issues. Mine shipped out super late and ended up getting here even later.

Now, each month, Birchbox updates their site with your box contents every month on the 10th. I try to avoid peeking, but often, I look anyway. This month, I looked at my box contents and was SO EXCITED...there were several items I was really excited about!

Then, my box finally arrived...and it was a completely different box. Ahhh.

Anyway! March's box has a theme of "Spring Forward", which I am so so ready to do. This has been the longest, coldest winter of all time and if I see one more snowflake, I will cry.

Here's what was in the box I actually received!

Gilchrist & Soames London Collection Body Lotion - This is a light, fresh smelling lotion. It's not bad. I'd not spend the money on the full size, and I have lotion up to my ears, but the sample will be used. The brand and scent remind me of hotel lotion (and this brand is carried in some hotels), but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Not an exciting product, but not a terrible one.

Control Corrective Cucumber Bead Cleanser and Oil Free Healing Lotion - These are nice. The cleanser is gentle and the beads are soft...it smells like citrus and cucumber and really does leave my face soft and fresh. The lotion is also nice - not too heavy. It doesn't have a strong scent. I have already used these up! They are nice, but don't beat out my favorite skincare products.

Obliphica Professional Intensive Hair Serum - I have hair oils and serums coming out of my ears. However, they are something I use every day and I'm always happy to try a new one. This one smells amazing (kind of like cotton candy) and it really does leave my hair sleek and shiny. I actually prefer it to the Redken and Moroccanoil that I am currently working through. I don't know that I'd buy it full price, but I am happy to use up the sample.

Air Repair Rescue Balm - This is a multi purpose balm that can be used on skin or lips. I'm not crazy about it. It feels heavy and greasy, and the results are no better than a typical balm. I will use it on my cuticles, but there is no way I would buy this.

Inika Eyeliner in Green Lagoon - This is an organic mineral eyeliner pencil in a really pretty shimmery green. I like it, it is springy, creamy, and gorgeous. I have liners for days, but this one will be used up. I like the mineral ingredients! This is definitely my favorite item in this month's box.

Overall, I don't dislike this month's box, but I am not excited about it the way I was the box that was listed on my account. Products are fine, but just a little lackluster. I'm sure most of that is because I had my heart set on the other box, and if this had been my original box, I would have been happy with it!

As always, if you haven't tried out Birchbox yet, feel free to sign up using my referral link.

What was in your box this month?

Beauty Box 5 - March 2014

2014-03-19T16:48:00.000-07:00

Wow, we're getting close to the end of March already, and I don't know where the time went! The weather still feels somewhat wintry, I still have the winter blahs. Ahhh.

Anyway, as always, Beauty Box 5 was one of my first boxes to show up this month!

Beauty Box 5 is another monthly beauty subscription service. Here's the breakdown!

Cost: $12/month (but they offer savings for purchasing longer subscriptions).
Ships to: The Continental US and Canada
Shipping: DHL Global Mail (final delivery via USPS), cost included.
Products: A mix of makeup, skincare, body care, haircare, and tools.

It usually takes my BB5 a little less than a week to get to me, once it ships. It ships toward the beginning of the month.

March's theme is "Out With The Old, In With The New". BB5 usually sends out a few varied items in their boxes, and I'm always excited to see which ones will be mine. Here's what I got!

Tree Hut Shea Body Butter in Coconut Lime - This is an organic body butter with a tropical coconut and lime scent. I've mentioned before that I dislike the general coconut lime scent (I blame being around too many people when that scent was huge from BBW). Well, this body butter is an exception! It smells so nice and summery, and the texture is nice and rich without being greasy. This tub went right into my purse and I've been using it at work for a boost of energy and cheer, and to keep my hands and elbows soft! Love it!

Jane's Pick All Natural Handmade Bar Soap - This is a handmade soap sample! I'm actually not sure what scent mine is, but I think it might be Purity, as I can smell lavender and mint! I love this kind of bar soap, so clean and natural. This is a very relaxing scent and I like using it before bed to soothe me and help me get ready for sleep. I am impressed with the looks of the company, too, and will likely be placing an order to try more products!

H2O Plus Hand & Nail Cream - This is exactly what it sounds like. I really like this brand, and I LOVE hand creams. At my job, I use my hands constantly, and wash them often. As such, my hands are always dried out and irritated. I love a good hand cream to keep them happy. This one works really really well! It absorbs quickly and isn't greasy. The one downside is that it doesn't smell great - it has that typical lotiony smell to it. However, that is not a dealbreaker. It's a really nice cream!

Swissco Dual Sided Facial Pad - This is really cool. It's a face cleansing pad with softer side and a loofah-like side. I was really excited to get this! It's really important to me that I keep my face exfoliated! I love that BB5 sends out tools and items like this, as many of my other subs don't do that often.

Somehow, my computer/the internet ate the photo of my last item, so this one is from BellaPierre's site!

BellaPierre Cosmetics Makeup Base - This is a multi-tasking product that can be used as a concealer, illuminator, or eye primer/base. I love products like this! So far, I have used it under BB cream to camouflage problem areas and as a shadow base. I like it for both uses! It is a little sticky, which is actually a good thing, as it helps other products adhere. It's great with loose pigments.

I've been using all of these products daily since I received them!

Overall, I am really happy with March's box! I love the range of items and brands, and as always, everything is super useful.

What did you think of this month's box?

*Disclaimer: I received a box free of charge for review purposes. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated.

Glossybox - February 2014

2014-03-05T14:44:00.003-08:00

Man, I'm glad February is over. I love the month for the chocolate, but the weather...gah. It's no surprise that my Glossybox was the last of my subs to show up...some girls STILL haven't received their February box! Mine did show up about a week ago, but I've been behind on everything this month.

But, since I am home sick with the plague today, I figured I'd at least get something done.

February's box has a theme of "The Month of Love". They state that they aim to deliver a box filled with love and happiness every month, and that they hope each box serves as a reminder to take some time to primp and pamper yourself.

There were some variations this month! Here's what I received.

Anatomicals - Puffy the Eye Bag Slayer Wake Up Under Eye Patches - Okay, how cute is this name? This is the same brand that sent out a really great shower gel a couple of months ago, and they have such cute clever names. These are eye patches intended to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and eye bags as well as moisturize, nourish, and rejuvenate. I have issues with dark circles, puffiness, and natural fine lines, so I was super excited to get these. There are 3 sets of the patches. I tried one, and they were really nice - my eyes really did look and feel better, and they felt super cooling and soothing while on. Really happy with these!

Lauren B Beauty Nail Couture in City of Angels - This is a brand new line of quick drying nail enamel that promises a high shine and chip resistant finish. The shade is a very sheer light pink. I do love trying new polish brands, but I am less than thrilled with this color - pale pinks like this always go on so streaky for me, and I don't care much for the look of the shade while worn, either. The formula does seem nice, but a different color would have made me much happier.

Sumita Beauty Kala Color Intense Pencil - This is a deep black long wearing liner. I actually have a travel size of this already, and it is a great liner - super dark and creamy and it really does last. I'd have been more excited for a fun color, but as far as black eye pencils go, this is a really great one!

Skin&Co Roma Truffle Therapy Serum Plus - This is a hydrating serum that promises to increase hydration and reduce fine lines and wrinkles. I love this serum...it really does make my skin look and feel nice and soft and hydrated. It's too expensive for me to purchase, but I will use the sample and be happy to try any of this brand's products.

Pureology Serious Colour Care Colour Fanatic Multi-Tasking Hair Beautifier for Color Treated Hair - Okay, could they come up with a longer name for this stuff? Seeeeriously. Anyway, this is a hair treatment that promises 21 benefits and to prime and protect hair. Well, frankly it sounds like a lot of words that basically mean "leave-in conditioner and protectant" to me, but yeah...marketing. This stuff is okay. It feels a bit heavy on my hair, but it's not bad. I won't purchase it, but I will use the sample.

Overall, this was an okay month for me. I love the eye pads and the serum. I like and will use the liner and spray. The polish is getting passed along to someone who will use it, because I dislike the color. This was my last month of my 6 month sub, and I haven't decided if I'm going to resub for March or not.

What do you think of February's box?

Beauty Box 5 - February 2014

2014-03-01T09:29:00.003-08:00

One of my favorite things about subs is trying new things. I'm always super excited when a sub sends me something I have never tried before! Beauty Box 5 did just that this month.

I love Beauty Box 5. I feel they are often overlooked...not as many people have heard of them as the larger subs. But they always send me a variety of items and the items are always interesting and of good quality and it is always worth more than the $12 that you pay!

February 2014 is their 2nd birthday! I was really excited to see what was in their birthday celebration box!

Such a sweet little info card this month! I love that their information cards are nice and detailed, with pictures.

Rockstar Nails Caviar Nail polish set - This is a pretty purple nail polish with matching caviar beads. I was so excited to get this - I had never tried a caviar mani before! I did a quick caviar accent nail and shared with you how to do it below! This is a new brand to me and I really love the formula of the polish and the fun of the caviar.

Every Beauty Makeup Remover Pads with Argan Oil extract - These are dry makeup remover pads...you just get them wet when you're ready to use them! I love this idea - I absolutely hate when my face wipes dry out! These have already found a home in my bag. I love discovering new items like this!

Elizabeth Mott It's So Big Volumizing Mascara - I've actually gotten this before, but a friend needed mascara (and my stash was huge) so I passed it along to her and never had a chance to try it! I'm excited to try it this time. I don't want to open it until I finish my current mascara, but I'll report back with my thoughts on it.

John Frieda Luxurious Volume Touchably Full shampoo and conditioner (2 packets of each): I'm always happy to try new shampoos and conditioners. I used one of these yesterday, and my hair does feel nice and soft and full. I really like John Frieda products!

I was really happy with the contents of my Beauty Box 5 this month! I was so excited about the Rockstar Nails set that I decided to play with it a bit! Forgive the terrible lighting.

I decided to do just one accent nail with the caviar, today. So I started by painting the other nails. The polish was really easy to work with - not too thick, not too thin. I saved the accent nail for last, because you want to put the beads on about 10 seconds after you paint that nail - before it gets too try, but allowing for a few seconds for it to "set" a bit.

There are different methods for applying the caviar. Some people pour it over the nail. I decided to pour some beads in a container and dipping my nail in. I poured in enough beads to ensure I could cover the nail easily.

Next, I painted the accent nail, waited 10 seconds to allow it to set, a dipped it in. I moved the nail around a bit, making sure every surface made contact with the beads.

Tada! The next step is to tap off the excess, and seal it with a topcoat. Such a cute and fun look!

Now, a caviar manicure is not something that is going to offer you a lot of longevity, so don't do it when you need your nails to look great all week. But it is a super cute and fun look for a night out or special occasion. I'm really excited to play with this set more!

Have you tried a caviar mani yet? What about Beauty Box 5?

Disclaimer: I received this box free of charge for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

Ipsy - February 2014

2014-03-01T08:55:00.001-08:00

Wow, somehow it's already March! I don't know how I got so behind on everything is month, but I can't say I'm sad to see spring approaching...HOPEFULLY.

I'll start off by saying that Ipsy has been on my chopping block for a while. It's not that the products they send out are bad, and it's always great to get full sized makeup...but as they tend to use so many repeated brands and very similar product types, it's just getting less exciting for me. And, as my stash grows, it becomes more and more unlikely that they will send me anything I don't have half a dozen of. I have enough points to cash in for March, and after that Ipsy and I will be taking a break, until I see them starting to bring in a bigger variety of brands and products.

That said, here's what I got for February!

Ipsy's theme for February is "The Look Of Love". That's always a good thing, right? I love Valentine themed things, pink things, love things! I was optimistic that Ipsy would make me happy this month. Well...

The bag itself is cute and simple. It is pink, with a slightly rounded top. It has a pink leopard print inside. I love pink, so I've already put this in my bag, it's perfect for holding the teabags I like to take to work with me.

POP Beauty Plump Pout Mini in Peony Petal - This is a mini lipgloss in a pretty pink color that promises to plump lips. Okay, I am not huge on lipgloss and I have a ton of them, so I was just going to put this aside and gift it. However, I started seeing ladies on Makeuptalk complain that theirs smelled terrible, like chemicals, gasoline, and burned rubber. Curiosity got the best of me, and I opened it...YEAH. So glad I didn't gift this. It smells like burning tires with gas poured on top. I would never put anything that smelled like this anywhere near my mouth! Apparently it is not the "normal" smell so these minis might have gone bad somewhere...but I have glosses that are years old and none of them smell like this. It makes me wonder what you're putting in there to make them smell so awful when they DO go off. I wasn't a big fan of POP beauty anyway, but now I will not be putting anything they make anywhere near my face. Ipsy is sending those who complain a replacement...I got mine today. They sent me another POP gloss which smells as bad as the first, and a Buxom gloss in Dolly, which does not smell and I'm happy to get.

j. cat beauty eyelashes - Okay, Ipsy. I CANNOT APPLY FAKE LASHES TO SAVE MY LIFE. Why you keep insisting on sending them to me is beyond me, but please stop. If I try them, they are destroyed and wasted, the value is barely worth trading, and I don't have anyone nearby to gift them to. Just stop. I've pawned a dozen pairs of lashes off on people over the last year, and I've had quite enough. Send them to someone who will love them properly.

Zoya nail polish in Dot - It's hard to see the color in the picture, it is a very pretty baby pink. I was hoping for the purple shade they sent out, but this one is nice, too! I don't wear much baby pink polish, as I find it hard to work with (and I'm not that great with nail polish to begin with) but I like this one enough to replace my current light pink with it! I'm always happy to get Zoya, it remains my favorite polish brand.

First Aid Beauty Skin Rescue Deep Cleanser - This is a cleanser that contains red clay to unclog pores. I love a good cleanser, and I like this brand, so I was excited to get this! I've been using it this week, and it's really nice. I would consider buying it again once I use up some of my current stash of cleansers! I love the ingredients and the way it helps balance out my combination skin. A+ on picking this one for me, Ipsy.

Jesse's Girl 9 pan eyeshadow palette in The Eyes Have It (greens) - Well, you know I love eyeshadow, and these colors are gorgeous. However, I was a bit disappointed to get this. I had previously tried a shadow palette by Jesse's Girl, and the quality was just awful - patchy, no pigmentation, and hard to blend. I decided to try this one anyway, and while it isn't as bad as the other I tried, the quality is still not good. I will take it in to work and use it for "makeover days" with my residents. I love Jesse's Girl eye pens, but the shadows leave much to be desired!

This is just not a good Ipsy month for me. I love the cleanser and Zoya, so it's not a total loss (and those two items are worth my $10), but it definitely cemented my decision to cancel for a while after March (unless March ends up being amazing). I'm just looking for actual discovery, new shades, products, brands, etc and Ipsy is just sending me the same low quality brands and products over and over with the occasional awesomeness thrown in. It's great if you're trying to build up your makeup collection, but when you already have a lot, like I do, it really becomes more about discovery than quantity.

What do you think of this month's Ipsy bag?

Birchbox - February 2014

2014-02-25T08:53:00.002-08:00

Man, I'm behind on everything this month! I blame it on the cold.

Anyway, Birchbox teamed up with US Weekly to curate February's boxes. They went with a theme of "Step and Repeat" in honor of awards season and the tricks behind red carpet looks. I usually like collaboration boxes, so I was excited to see what I was getting!

The outer mailer was different this month - red with US Weekly and Birchbox logos on it. The inner box was the same!

I received 5 items this month - 4 beauty items and a lifestyle extra.

Ahmad Tea London teas - This is my lifestyle extra. I was actually super happy to get tea! I am a tea fanatic and whenever subs send out tea, they NEVER send it to me! These teas are all delicious. I took them to work for a mid-day pick me up, and the Lemon Vitality is especially great for that! I can attest that they taste great both hot and iced!

Ayres Bar Soap n Patagonia - This is a natural soap with jasmine, lavender, ylang-ylang, and fir. I do use bar soap occasionally, however, when I do, I generally go with Lush or handmade soaps from indie sellers. That said, I don't mind trying another one. I don't care much for the scent of this. It is a fresh scent, but kind of masculine and just not my style. It does have a pretty rich lather. I think I'll finish it up, but I won't buy the soap - for the price I can go to Lush and get one of my favorites!

Juicy Couture Couture La La Malibu perfume - This is a scent with notes of mandarin and pink sugar. It's official - Birchbox is determined that I need Juicy in my life. They have sent me every single Juicy Couture scent they have sent out to date. They aren't bad, but they aren't my favorite. This one is okay! It is nice and summery. I was hoping it would be lots of sweet citrus, but instead it is more floral. Regardless, it smells nice and I'll wear it!

Beauty Protector Protect & Oil - This is a hair oil that protects from damage, UV rays, and heat. It smells just like the Beauty Protector spray - basically, AMAZING. I use hair oil every day, but I am generally not excited to get them, just because my current stash is pretty big! That said, this is a really nice one. It is not heavy at all and it leaves my hair nice and smooth and silky...and the scent is incredible. I might rebuy this one once my other oils are used up!

Cynthia Rowley Beauty Liquid Liner in black - This is a smudgeproof liquid liner. Now, I have a ton of liners and getting a black one is not generally terribly exciting for me. However, I have not tried any of Cynthia Rowley's products yet, and I am really excited to do so! It seems to be easy to work with and it's a full size. Not bad at all!

Overall, I am happy with my Birchbox this month! I like everything except for the soap, and the rest will be used happily (and the soap will be used in one way or another!) I love that I always receive something new to me from Birchbox.

What was in your box this month?